Historic aspect Ratios:
TV/Video
UK TV approx 1935-1947 (closed 1939, reopened 1946) 5:4 = 1.25:1
Most TV before Widescreen TV 4:3 = 1.33*:1
Widescreen TV 16:9 = 1.77*:1
VGA (640 x 480) is a progressive version of NTSC etc 4:3. Highest common 4:3 was 1600 x 1200 by 2002.
Widescreen computer is is 16:9 or 16:10
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ay_resolutions
Any A format paper is 1.414:1 (square root 2). Doubling or folding in half gives same ratio.
US Letter size is 1.31 ratio from 8.5 by 11 inches (215.9 by 279.4 mm)
Cinema
Older movies, esp. silent, often exactly 4.3 = 1.33*:1
Approximately 1928 to 1953 Academy Ratio 1.375:1. Usually cropped to 4:3 for TV.
Common Non-Anamorphic, WS (narrow) 5:3 = 1.66*:1
Common Non-Anamorphic, WS (wide) 1.85:1 (usually cropped to 1.77* for TV)
Anamorphic movies can be wider, 2.7:1 for Ben Hur.
Cinema projectors for almost 100 years have gates (matting) to set the projected ratio from about 1:1 to 3:1. Even before WWII some ultra-wide screen movoes used 3 coupled cameras and projectors (maybe one version of War & Peace).
So while 16:9 now makes sense for 2K, QHD and 4K big screens (up to 3 windows side by side) and TV, it makes no sense for "HD" laptops or any tablet, as it ONLY suits WS video for TV.